The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-02-27
rHE LADY OF TIE CASTLE.
The Magnificent SIountain Home Of
AdeItna Patti.


About one hundred miles from London,
in Wales, in picturesque chain Of noun
tains, is situated the majestic and. beautiful
Castle of Crazy Nos. the home of AIDE
lima Patti, in the style of the fifteenth
century.
Numerous lighthouses offer fruits and
flowers of every kind. while the stables
are provided with superb horses, which
the diva handles with the skill of an Anna
zon. Nor are carriages of every descrip
ton wanted, one of which always stands
waiting for the guests at the station Of
Crag Nos. The kennels contain twenty
packs of hounds, and in the poultry yard
are pheasants and every kind Of fowl In
the kitchens, kept with extreme neatness
aud order, the most appetizing viands are
prepared by skilful cocks. and the cellars
furnish the most exquisite wines and
quors in the world. The castle is built
entirely OF stone.
But who can give an adequate idea of
the grandeur and beauty to be found
within these walls? says correspondent
of the San Francisco Call There are two
two dining halls--one for Winter, the
other for Summer. Near these two rooms
Is magnificent conservatory, while in the
centre of the castle is spacious reception
room, with furniture Of exquisite taste.
embroidered in gold. This room is adorn-
ed with pictures, Oriental rugs and draper
les of great value, as well as many jewels
of price--all being presents which the
diva has received. The beautiful tankard
of gold, set with briiiants, and the massive
golden laurel crown, ornamented with
diamond stars, both Of which superb gifts
were given her by her enthusiastic admir-
ers in San Francisco, are there, testimo-
monials of their affection apd good will.
Among the jewels is q caskst OF silver
Of artistic workmanship, gift from her
fellow students of the Vienna Opera
troupe, while birds of pure gold. with
eyes of rubies; small piano iElsid with
precious stones, and the choicest fans,
albums, pictu es and artistic works Of
every sort and of great value form part
OF the collection Of the lady OF the castle.
The boudoir of the diva looks like dain-
ty little box, with is rose-colored and blue
furnishings. Here stands an upright piano
of satin wood, while On the walls hang
photographs and pictur1s, all gifts from
friends. Nor are there wanting portraits
of all the crown heads of Europe, as well
as of the most renowned artists and musi-
clans. Autographs and subscriptions under
these show the high consideration in which
Patti is held. There are also water colors
painted by the diva herself, which testify
that were she not the queen OF song she
might have distinguished herself in the
realm of painting.
There are also two large rooms contain
| ing billiard tables, and it is here that Nico-
lima spends his evenings. While the ladies
| and gentlemen amuse themselves with the
| game they listen to as harmonious music IS
| one could desire, for an orchestra of 100
| musicians could not render more exactly
| every sort of music than does the grand
orchestfion made in Geneva at the express
order of the diva at cost of 1000 Italian
lire, to say nothing of 100 cylinders, each
| costing 500 lire.
Slightly elevated, yet making part of the
billiard room, Is the card room, containing
another grand piano. Here playing fol
| money is forbidden, according to the ex
press desire of Nine. Patti, who, however
prefers billiards to any other game, and in
Signor Nicolina has q skillful and excellent
master.
The bedroom of Patti is tapestried il
blush gray embellished with gold, and the
furniture of inlaid rosewood is, in common
with nearly all the furniture of the castle
surmounted by her monogram and tbs
ooronet of marquis, while her dressing
room is perfect biJou.
Signor Nicolini's apartment is well fur.
nished; the walls are hung with pictures
of game and fish. The great wardrobes are
full of every possible, gear invented fol
hunting and fishing, for these two pursuits,
with billiards, are Siynor Nlcolini's pas
time. The grounds and lakes belonging to
the castle not suficing him, he has lease ed
seven square miles of land and five miles
| of the river in order to have alone the right
| to hunt and fish there. The very day OF
my departure Signor Nicolini caught be-
fore my eyes q salmon weighing twenty
nine pounds.
The few and scattered villages in the
neighborhood are poor, and the villagers
| are ignorant. Patti is known to them by
no other title than the s'Lady of the Cas-
| tle." She has bestowed her charities so
often on the people for miles around that
they have a special veneratipn for her.
Serpents as Ornaments of Fashion.
No little beetles or serpents have as Hyet
appeared this season upon the evening
toilet of those of the earth who can afford
to be eccentric. Twenty years ago French
women had caprice about snakes. They
made pets of them. The Princesse de la
Tour d Auvergne always kept little one in
her packet, alive of course Her husband
objected, and Der friends did not all quite
I.